Burmese Folk Tale, Puppet Master

Burmese Folk Tale,

Puppet Master


Once upon a time, that was a very long long time ago, in a beautiful prosperous country called Shwe Bama Paradise there was an old puppet maker name Ah Ba Aung.

He had a son named Mg Tat. As the name implies Mg Tat is megalomaniac and thought he knew every thing. So he decided to travel and work abroad to become rich. Father sadly gives him his favourite, precious four puppets,

  1. a Nat (Burmese version of guardian angel),
  2. a Be Loo (ogre),
  3. a Zaw Gyi
  4. and a holy monk.

Ah Ba Aung reminded Mg Tat to use his puppets wisely and explained him how to use them if he is in trouble.

On the first night of his journey, he was alone scared and out of curiosity but jokingly asked the Nat puppet whether it is safe to rest under the tree. The Nat suddenly came alive and advised him to survey and observe the surroundings first before sleep and he found out the foot prints of a tiger, climbed and sleep on the tree and was saved from the tiger which came again later.

The next day he saw a long caravan and he asked the Be Loo or Ogre how he could become rich immediately. Be Loo suddenly became alive and help Mg Tat to rob and take over the whole caravan. Be Loo taught him a lesson that “The Might is right and it is nothing wrong if he could take anything with force.”

He found Shwe Bama princess on a carriage and fall in love at first sight. Princess told him that she is the daughter of deposed King Lu Du and she was traveling with all their belongings on the way to join back her father.

Mg Tat, with the help and advice of the Be Loo took the princess by force against her will.

Mg Tat was confused and did not know what to do with the new found wealth and asked the advice of the Zaw Gyi. As Zaw Gyi was wise, powerful, know the science, weather, ground condition, could even fly, dive into the earth, he could give the detailed map of fertile soil and precious metal deposits to Mg Tat. Mg Tat became very rich in a very short time.

Mg Tat tried in every possible way to get the love of the princess but failed every time. One day the princess managed to escape from Mg Tat. Be Loo and Zaw Gyi could not give any help. Then only he remembered about the two puppets he forgot, the Nat he used once and the Monk he never asked for help.

Then only the two of them taught him that Power and Wealth only, never brings happiness.

Physical possession of the body with the Might could not get the Love and Loving Kindness.

The True Happiness comes only from pure heart and Good-deeds.

What one possessed is not important but how you utilize that possession is more important.

They reminded his father, Ah Ba Aung’s wise advice to use all four of the puppets wisely. As he was only using the Might of the Ogre and Wisdom of the Zaw Gyi and forgot to control those two with the Wisdom of the Nat and Goodness of the Holy Monk he was on the wrong track.

Might and power brought wealth but wealth brought in misery only. True happiness came from good deeds only.

Those two good puppets changed the life of Mg Tat. He does a lot of good deeds, donations and accidentally met the poor princess and her father, poor deposed King Lu Du. He apologized both of them, asked for forgiveness, give back the poor King all his belongings. He wanted to go back to his old village but the King immediately recognized his virtues and talent, offered him a job as his most trusted right hand man and offered him to continue to stay in the ‘palace’ he returned back.

Mg Tat gladly accepted to work for the deposed King, and later even won the trust of not only the king,  but of the princess and at last even won over her heart. They were legally married, Mg Tat became Ein Shei Min or Regent and at last the king of whole Shwe Bama country. And they happily lived ever after.

Zat paung khan (Epilogue):

Shwe Bama Paradise is Union of Burma.

Old wise puppet maker name Ah Ba Aung is our father General Aung San.

His son Mg Tat is the Myanmar Tat Madaw.

The Nat is Maha Bandula on special mission ordered by General Aung San to take care of his son, Tatmadaw. He advised me to keep quite like ‘The Royal drum which made the sound only if strike. The wise man, who only answered when asked for advice’ so I give this best advice at last at a crucial time only. I let Mg Tat or the Myanmar Tatmadaw alone to do what they like for a long time giving enough periods to learn its own lesson.

Ogre or Be Loo is not alone, represents three persons viz: General Ne Win, General Saw Maung and Senior General Than Shwe.

Zaw Gyi also represents: Russia, North Korea and Pakistan giving Nuclear Know-how, Thailand, China and India supporting economically and militarily.

Tiger represented foreign colonies including Fascist Japan.

Shwe Bama princess represented our beloved Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

Looting or robbing of the caravan is the Coup.

King Lu Du represents Lu Du or all the people of Burma/Myanmar.

Holy man Monk represent, Sayadaw U Gambira led demonstrating monks.  

Lesson learnt:

  1. Might is not always right.
  2. Wealth could not buy the love.
  3. Wealth alone could not bring in happiness.
  4. How much wealthy is not important. How do we use the wealth is more important.
  5. Knowledge alone could lead to disasters.
  6. Might and Knowledge must be guided by Wisdom and Goodness.
  7. Might and power brought wealth but wealth brought in misery only. True happiness came from good deeds only.
  8. Physical possession of the body with the Might could not get the Love and Loving Kindness.
  9. The True Happiness comes only from pure heart and Good-deeds.
  10. What one possessed is not important but how you utilize that possession is more important.

A. Advice to Mg Tat or Myanmar Tatmadaw:

please open your eyes and ears and think about your beloved country and people. Don’t just obey the wrong orders of Be Loos or Ogres Generals like Senior General Than Shwe.

B. Advice to Ogres, SPDC Generals led by Senior General Than Shwe:

because of your wrong selfish advices and orders your Mg Tat or Myanmar Tatmadaw is now hated by all the people of Myanmar.

Please repent now and change  if you wish to see the happy ending of Myanmar Tatmadaw.

Give back the power you looted from the people and NLD.

Your good will could be rewarded back by NLD and people. At last after few years, your Military men could definitely win back the power in fair and square elections as your brothers in ASEAN.

Actually people love you in their hearts but because of your strong. cruel, violent and unfair tactics they hate you in the brains.

Metta is always reflected and flows to both side. If you could really give the tender loving kindness to all the people you would be respected and loved by all.

C. Advice to Zaw Gyis: Russia, North Korea and Pakistan, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, China and India to stop supporting economically and militarily to the illegitimate present Military Government.

D. Advice to Lu Du or the people of Burma: Please be brave, patient and continue with the Civil Disobedience. As our beloved Bo Gyoke had advised in the shortest speech before the revolution of Fascist Japan, “Search and attack the nearest enemy!”

If applied that General Aung San’s advice in the present situation, that could mean, “Search and attack the nearest Kyant Phut, Swan Arrshin, military personnal and police.”

[Adapted from Daw Khin Myo Chit’s “The Four Puppets,” Folk Tales from Asia for Children Everywhere.]